“Cut it out.Maybe focus on baby-making.Or should I replace you?”I force a smile that tastes like steel.I won’t pretend she can bruise me anymore.
Amy squeezes her champagne glass.My stomach drops.Don’t you dare pour that on me.
“Listen carefully, you bitch.”Amy leans in, glare sharpened.Alan blocks her path.With that tall body between us, Amy looks up at Alan and steps back.She glares at me, pointing a finger.“One wrong move and I’ll ruin you.I’ll destroy you.”
I set my jaw and meet her glare.I refuse to be small.Not today.
“Have you ever thought about how you spent high school poking at what wasn’t yours?How does it feel to taste your own poison now?”I say.
“Ha.You mean Laird?”Amy smiles like she’s tasting amusement.“That’s ancient history.I didn’t expect you to cling to that.”
“I know about you and Alan’s little conspiracy back then.”My voice is steady.I’m done shivering.“You’d better apologize for all you did to me if you don’t want me to take what matters to you.And by the way, Peter was the one flirting, not me.”I plant a hand on my hip and let a smirk creep up.
Amy’s eyes go wide.She shoots a venomous look at Alan.“I only want what’s best for him,” she snaps, thinly polite.
“Don’t blame him.You’re the one responsible for what happened to me.”My chest tightens.“Apologize.”My voice tightens.I wait.
She scoffs, shrugs, then sneers.“Sorry.”
The word is paper-thin.My mouth snaps shut.I clamp my lips together to stop myself from launching at her.
I had hoped time would soften her.I thought I might pity her and compromise my morals to conspire with Golden.It hasn’t.If anything, it only hardens my resolve.This mission is everything.
I will see her arrested.
“Done.Now, fuck off.”Amy spits the last curse and turns away.
“Amy.She’s going to be your sister-in-law.Show her some respect,” Alan says in a cold voice, his glare sharp with anger.His words stop her in her tracks.
Amy tilts her head, then slowly turns to face him again.Her thumb brushes his cheek, her gaze tracing every detail of his face.
“You’re the one who should show me respect.Don’t you remember who brought you to success?Me.”
She pats his cheek afterward, light enough to pass as playful, but it’s clear she would’ve slapped him if it weren’t her own birthday party.Then she walks to the table and starts talking with a man whose face looks oddly familiar.
“Is that Chris?”I ask Alan quietly.
“Yes.”His voice is tight.The anger still burns in him.His jaw stays clenched, his expression grim.
“Wow.Some things never change.”I snort as Amy and Chris sitting side by side.
“Why?You planning to use him for your revenge too?”
Alan gives me a piercing look.I know that look.Laird used to look at me the same way every time I mentioned Alan—jealous, possessive, unreadable.
I need to be careful now.Without realizing it, I’ve been threatening to steal Peter from Amy when I should be focusing on keeping my engagement with Alan solid.I’ve been too caught up in my own little moment of revenge.
“Is Chris still available as a powerful weapon against Amy?”I smirk.
“Fenella.Don’t be ridiculous,” Alan growls.
“Sorry, Alan.She just gets under my skin.I won’t do anything.Promise.”I fix his jacket collar and pat his chest lightly.
“Don’t play with my heart.Laird’s already a big enough problem for me.”
“Yes, Alan.Of course.”
26
